A Message From Congressman Arcuri on Health Care Reform

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Website        |        About Me        |        Constituent Services        |        News        |        Contact Me   Ms. Robinson, On Thursday, October 29, 2009 Congress introduced a bill that would provide the most sweeping health care reform in our nation in the last forty years. Leadership in the House of Representatives have kept their promise to the American people that they would allow at least 72 hours between when the bill was introduced and when the bill will be voted on. As promised, I will be reading this bill very carefully and taking into account all of the comments shared during my eight health care town hall meetings across New York's 24th Congressional District and the thousands of calls and letters I have received voicing your hopes and concerns. I, like, you understand this is not about just passing a health care bill; it is about passing the best possible health care bill-one that ensures all of our families have health care coverage while also being fiscally responsible with our spending. As we debate reforming our nation's health care system, more and more, we're hearing stories about fraudulent schemes to rob the federal government of Medicare and Medicaid dollars.  Watch The Video For "The 60 Billion Dollar Fraud" Just this last Sunday, a segment on the CBS newsmagazine "60 Minutes" zeroed in on the high number of fraud cases throughout the country suspected of robbing the Medicare and Medicaid system of hundreds of millions of dollars. That same day, the Albany Times Union ran a story about a federal investigation into possible Medicaid fraud at the New York State Health Department and the Research Foundation at the State University of New York. It's clear that Congress needs to act to ensure these systems are safe and secure for those that need them. That's why I continue to fight for the passage of the IMPROVE Act, a bill I introduced back in July with Congressman Patrick Murphy (PA-8) and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). The IMPROVE Act would close loopholes used by fraud artists to gain access to personal information and Medicare and Medicaid checks by requiring that providers and suppliers are reimbursed via electronic deposit at an FDIC-approved bank or credit union. Under the current reimbursement system, criminals are able to siphon billions from the Medicare and Medicaid programs by cashing reimbursement checks for fraudulent services at check cashing stores. These stores, which rarely check IDs, verify Social Security numbers, or make other efforts to ensure the legitimacy of a transaction, both fail to prevent fraudulent billing and make it difficult to track down the perpetrators after payment has gone out. Medicare fraud drains $60 billion in taxpayer money every year. Improved personal verification and identification requirements at FDIC-approved banks and credit unions will make it harder for scammers to commit fraud and disappear without a trace, effectively closing the check-cashing laundering loophole that now exists. The IMPROVE Act has been endorsed by the AARP and the National District Attorneys Association. If you would like to learn how to protect yourself or to report suspected fraud, waste or abuse of Medicare or Medicaid, please contact: Medicare: U.S. Inspector General 1-800-HHS-TIPS www.stopmedicarefraud.gov Medicaid: NYS Medicare Inspector General 1-877-87 FRAUD www.omig.state.ny.us      MICHAEL ARCURI      Member of Congress   Washington, DC Office 127 Cannon HOB, Washington, DC 20515 ph: (202) 225-3665 Utica, NY Office 10 Broad Street, Room 200, Utica, NY 13501 ph: (315) 793-8146/8147 (800) 235-2525 Auburn, NY Office 17 E. Genesee Street, Auburn, NY, 13021 ph: (315) 252-2777/2778 Cortland, NY Office 16 Church Street, Carriage House Right, Cortland, NY, 13045 ph: (607)-756-2470 If you wish to contact me, please do so at http://arcuri.house.gov. Please do NOT reply to this message. If you do not wish to receive future emails from Congressman Mike Arcuri, unsubscribe here.

Re: Responding to your message

 

October 20, 2009

 

 

 

Dear Ms. Robinson,

 

Thank you for contacting me to express your support for increased access to high-speed internet in the United States.  I appreciate that you took the time to share your thoughts with me, and I'm glad we agree on this important issue. 

 

Broadband is no longer a luxury - our ability to compete in the global economy depends on widespread, affordable high-speed Internet access. As your Congressional representative, I am committed to ensuring that residents and businesses in Upstate New York have access to broadband. That is why I was proud to support the inclusion of $7 billion for broadband expansion in H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  This stimulus funding will help bring rural areas into the digital age, allow communities like ours to grow their economies, and create jobs through the building and maintenance of broadband networks.  

 

As the federal government moves forward with disbursing stimulus money, I will continue to fight to ensure that Upstate New York receives its fair share of broadband dollars. Most recently, I signed the attached letter to the Secretaries of Agriculture and Commerce, who have jurisdiction over federal broadband programs, urging them to clarify and streamline regulations to ensure funding reaches our region.  Universal high-speed internet access is critical to revitalizing the Upstate economy, and I will fight to ensure our region receives every federal broadband dollar available. 

 

Thank you again for contacting me. Rest assured that I will continue to keep your thoughts in mind as Congress works to bring broadband to rural areas. To receive updates on my work in New York and Washington, visit www.arcuri.house.gov to sign up for my monthly e-newsletter. Please do not hesitate to let me know if I can be of further assistance with this or any other matter.  

 

 

Sincerely, Michael A. Arcuri Member of Congress

 

--
A boar is often held by a not so large dog.
~Ovid

Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana.
~Groucho Marx

Re: Universal Broadband for Otsego County

Kathy Clark wrote:
> Hi Rachel,
> Thanks for sharing your opinion with me. Our committee has been busy
> this year working to prepare the application for stimulus funding that
> would allow us to build an open access fiber optic ring around
> throughout the county. If we are awarded the funding and the board
> members subsequently back the resolution to construct the ring it is
> our intention to provide middle mile services throughtout the county.
> The fiber optic backbone will establish a telecommunications
> foundation by which all service providers, including CLECs and
> wireless Internet Service Providers can develop and provide services
> on an equitable and cost effective basis. Broadband service providers
> stated that if the County built fiber, they will provide last mile
> broadband solutions over the fiber. The lower back haul costs of the
> County's fiber will equate to more profitable revenue streams for
> these companies and make these services more affordable for our
> residents.
>
> I suggest that you might also want to voice your support for this
> initiative by writing a letter to the county board. These letters
> become part of the public record. I believe that broadband has the
> potential to allow many people to "telecommute" to jobs in larger
> cities while living amidst the beautiful surroundings of Otsego county
> as well as bring many other services to the all areas of the county.
> It could be a win -win situation by providing firms in urban areas
> with a more economical labor force while at the same time bringing
> better paying job opportunities to the residents of this county. As a
> transplanted Long Islander who appreciates this county's many assets I
> will continue to seek opportunites to promote investments in
> technology that will increase job opportunitiesand enhance the
> economic viability of the residents of this county.
>
> Thanks for taking time to share your insights and concerns,
> Kathy Clark
> County Rep. District #3
>
>

A Message From Congressman Arcuri on Veterans' Health Legislation

Website        |        About Me        |        Constituent Services        |        News        |        Contact Me   Ms. Robinson, Throughout my work in Congress, I have never once forgotten that this nation owes its strong history and promising future to the work and commitment of our brave servicemen and women. In return for the sacrifices and life-and-death struggles they endure everyday, our government must at least ensure that our veterans receive excellent care and transition assistance at their homecoming. Our veterans have made protecting American lives and interests their first priority. It is only fitting that we, in turn, make their well-being a national priority. Recently, I testified before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health in support of legislation I have sponsored, H.R. 3441, that would automatically enroll veterans already eligible for free five-year health care in the VA medical system within 45 days of leaving the Armed Services. Unfortunately, we still have a system that doesn't sufficiently reach all soldiers. It currently requires soldiers who have just returned from war to navigate the bureaucracy of signing up for veterans' benefits. Dealing with returning to their "normal" lives presents its own challenges following their return. We shouldn't place another burden on our veterans by requiring them to jump through unnecessary hoops to get the care they deserve and may need. The idea for this important legislation came about after discussing the issue at a recent meeting of my Veterans Advisory Committee. It has been endorsed by the American Legion and the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), and has the support of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Bob Filner. H.R. 3411 does the following: • Automatically enrolls veterans who are already eligible for free VA health care (veterans who served in a combat theater of operations after November 11, 1998); • Requires the Defense Department and Department of Veterans Affairs to work together to most effectively achieve a seamless transition for returning soldiers; • Issues a standard VA veterans' identification card (VIC) to enrolled veterans and provides a listing of VA medical facilities within 100 miles of the veteran, as well as a description of federal veterans benefits and programs (educational benefits, job training, and placement programs) for which the veteran may be eligible; and, • Provides two opt-out opportunities – one at the time of separation, and another six months after separation – if the veteran prefers another form of health coverage in order to preserve an individual's right to choose his/her health plan. Watch Congressman Arcuri's testimony on H.R. 3411 before the House Veteran's Affairs Subcommittee on Health.   Last year, I joined a bi-partisan coalition in Congress to pass legislation that expanded GI Bill benefits for veterans and their families. This historic legislation restored full, four-year college scholarships to veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars to help make them part of an economic recovery like the veterans of World War II. Since enrollment opened on May 1, 2009, more than 27,500 students have received benefits for housing or books, or their schools have received their tuition payments. Although the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has been working to get every enrolled veteran their benefits, many of them have not received them to date because of a backlog in the VA's enrollment system. In response, the VA has authorized emergency checks for up to $3,000 to be sent to veterans to bridge the gap between the start of the school year and their enrollment into the education benefits program. Starting Friday, Oct. 2, 2009, students can go to one of VA's 57 regional benefit offices with a photo ID and a course schedule to request advance payment of their education benefits. Because not all these offices are located near students, VA expects to send representatives to schools with large Veteran-student bodies and work with Veteran Service Organizations to help students with transportation needs. A list of those VA regional offices is available at www.vba.va.gov/VBA/benefits/offices.asp. Additionally, my office can serve as a primary resource for returning veterans. If you have questions about federal benefits, or are experiencing trouble receiving them, please contact my Utica, NY Office at 315-793-8146 or click here for information on how to submit constituent casework to our office. Sincerely; MICHAEL ARCURI Member of Congress   Washington, DC Office 127 Cannon HOB, Washington, DC 20515 ph: (202) 225-3665 Utica, NY Office 10 Broad Street, Room 330, Utica, NY 13501 ph: (315) 793-8146/8147 (800) 235-2525 Auburn, NY Office 17 E. Genesee Street, Auburn, NY, 13021 ph: (315) 252-2777/2778 Cortland, NY Office 16 Church Street, Carriage House Right, Cortland, NY, 13045 ph: (607)-756-2470 If you wish to contact me, please do so at http://arcuri.house.gov. Please do NOT reply to this message. If you do not wish to receive future emails from Congressman Mike Arcuri, unsubscribe here.

A Message From Congressman Mike Arcuri

Website        |        About Me        |        Constituent Services        |        News        |        Contact Me   Ms. Robinson, With the national discourse dominated by healthcare reform, I wanted to bring to your attention a critical piece of education legislation that passed the House of Representatives with my strong support recently. The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (H.R. 3221) will allow more students in Upstate New York to attend college while saving the taxpayer $87 billion over ten years by switching to the cheaper Direct Loan program. In addition to investing in college aid, this legislation will also direct $10 billion in savings back to the U.S. Treasury to help pay down the deficit, and provide a $40 billion increase in the Pell Grant Scholarship program. It will keep interest rates low and make loan application forms simpler to understand and complete, doing away with the burdensome paperwork that now makes applying for aid such a daunting task. In Upstate New York, we need to make sure our children can pursue higher education of all kinds without being limited by financial situations. This legislation will do exactly that. With 14 colleges and universities located in the 24th Congressional District, sending more students to local campuses will provide a major economic boost to the surrounding communities. The competitive grants program established in this bill will strengthen ties between community colleges and local employers by improving student training and career services, empowering students to obtain a degree and contribute to the local economy. Providing students with the tools they need to succeed is the surest path to building the highly-trained, innovative workforce communities in Upstate New York need to succeed in the 21st century. Watch Congressman Arcuri discuss the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act in a "One Minute" speech on the Floor of the House of Representatives.   Listen to Congressman Arcuri's weekly radio address, where he discusses his vote in support of the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (H.R. 3221) Highlights of The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (H.R. 3221): Invests $40 billion to increase the maximum annual Pell Grant scholarship to $5,550 in 2010 and to $6,900 by 2019. This translates to more than $ 92.4 million for students in New York's 24th Congressional District. Starting in 2011, the scholarship will be linked to match rising costs-of-living by indexing it to the Consumer Price Index plus 1 percentage point, which increases both the award students are eligible for and the number of students eligible for an award. In New York's 24th Congressional District, 19,113 students will be eligible for a Pell Grant award in the 2010-2011 academic year. Provides grants to states to help community colleges finance new construction, modernization, renovation, and repair projects. Allows grant funds to be used to match private donations to a community college capital campaign. New York would receive nearly $135.5 million to help finance projects to community college facilities. Provides loan forgiveness for members of the military who are called up to duty in the middle of the academic year. Keeps interest rates low on need-based - or subsidized - federal student loans by making the interest rates on these loans variable beginning in 2012. These interest rates are currently set to jump from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent in 2012. Makes it easier for families to apply for financial aid by simplifying the FAFSA form. Invests $3 billion in college access and completion support programs for students, such as the College Access Challenge Grant program, and will also fund innovative programs at states and institutions that focus on increasing financial literacy and helping retain and graduate students. Authorizes more than $4 billion for elementary and secondary school facility projects over the next two fiscal years, and ensures that school districts will receive funds for school modernization, renovation, and repairs that create healthier, safer, and more energy-efficient teaching and learning climates. Allocates the same percentage of funds to school districts that they receive under Part A of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, except that it guarantees each such district a minimum of $5,000. To find out if you or your child qualify for a federal Pell Grant visit: www.ed.gov/programs/fpg/index.html For additional information about federal grants, loans and work-study programs call the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) at 1-800-433-3243 or 1-800-730-8913 or visit: www.studentaid.ed.gov. Sincerely, MICHAEL ARCURI Member of Congress   Washington, DC Office 127 Cannon HOB, Washington, DC 20515 ph: (202) 225-3665 Utica, NY Office 10 Broad Street, Room 200, Utica, NY 13501 ph: (315) 793-8146/8147 (800) 235-2525 Auburn, NY Office 17 E. Genesee Street, Auburn, NY, 13021 ph: (315) 252-2777/2778 Cortland, NY Office 16 Church Street, Carriage House Right, Cortland, NY, 13045 ph: (607)-756-2470 If you wish to contact me, please do so at http://arcuri.house.gov. Please do NOT reply to this message. If you do not wish to receive future emails from Congressman Mike Arcuri, unsubscribe here.

Universal Broadband for Otsego County

Hello Kathleen

I am writing to you because you are the chair of the Otsego County
Legislature's Telecommunications committee.

I live 4 miles out of Richfield Springs and I am supposed to work from
home. I do not receive wired broadband internet service in my home, so
I rent office space in town. Lately the issue of rural broadband
availability has become very important to me because I am concerned that
the small area of Richfield Springs/Springfield that does not receive
wired broadband will be overlooked when and if the county begins it's
universal broadband installation. I am even more concerned that my area
will be neglected because we receive Verizon Wireless service, and are
capable of getting wireless broadband internet. Unfortunately I cannot
viably perform my job using wireless broadband, and Verizon Wireless
imposes a cap on how much information I'm allowed to transfer every month.

I've been reading news articles that insinuate universal broadband will
decrease jobs instead of increase them. I have also read that one of
the Otsego County representatives wanted to hold off on applying for
stimulus funds for fiber optic cable, believing that wireless services
will render it obsolete. I would argue both of these ideas. Universal
broadband access would allow metropolitan corporations to out-source a
portion of their office work, not to another country, but to upstate
residents. My father and I both work from home for companies in New
York City. The reasonable cost of upstate living makes it
cost-efficient for a company to offer us lower salaries than our
city-dwelling counterparts.

As far as wireless technologies are concerned, it is unlikely that any
local wireless service will ever offer unlimited internet access until a
wired internet competitor enters their territory and makes it a
necessity. The upload and download speeds available to wireless users
currently can not match the efficiency of fiber optic based services.
Verizon Wireless is aware that it is currently the rural users only
option. Wireless companies are for-profit organizations that will only
be compelled to make high priced expansions when they are threatened
with loss of revenues.

I have begun noting when the telecommunications committee and full
legislature are scheduled to meet. Please let me know if there is
anything I can do to make my situation known, or to support the county's
work towards universal broadband access.

If you don't feel that this message is entirely pertinent to you, please
feel free to forward it to any persons to whom it may apply.

Thank you for your time,
Rachel Robinson
Richfield Springs, NY 13439

My second ION response

Hi Rachel:

We are certainly hoping to be able to provide better broadband coverage in
Otsego County if we are fortunate enough to receive stimulus funds. We are
expecting to hear some news in the near future. Feel free to check back in a
month or so, and we should have more information.

Thanks,

Derek

Derek A. Kaminsky
Director Carrier Sales and Marketing
ION
dkaminsky@I-O-N.com
518-689-4552